Car-coupling



@o Model.)

' W. CRANE.

` GAR GOUPLING. No. 301,570. Patente-d July 8, 1884.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CRANE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part o :f Letters Patent No. 301,570, dated July 8, 1884. Application nica April 2s, 1ss4. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CRANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston,

in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Coupling Links; and I do hereby declare that the same are fully described in 'the following specification and illlistrated in the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide for railway-cars a coupling-link which will open to admit laterally the coupling-pin of an approaching car, and close by a spring action to retain it when admitted.

My invention consists in a link hooked at each end and open at one side, except as closed by a spring secured upon acentral ledge of said link. Theouter ends of the link are beveled or made oblique, and the ends of the spring project outwardly therefrom, so as to form a mouth or guide for the pin to insure its lateral entrance between them for coupling two cars automatically. The draw-head with which my improved link is used shouldbe adapted to support the link about horizontally as it projects therefrom in readiness to 'receive sidewise the coupling-pinof the approachin g car. I prefer the construction shown in the drawings, the draw-head flaring at its mouth, thence extending back with a vertical space but slightly greater than the thickness of the link.

In the drawings, Figure l represents my irnproved link in plan or top view,with the drawl a', b is a transverse ledge or spring-supporter,

d, preferably forged integral with the body of the link; but it is obvious that such ledge may bemade distinct from and rmly secured to the link. The spring c, which closes the open side of the link, is preferably composed of two strips of spring -steel, one re enforcing the other, and both mounted upon the outer iacc of the ledge d. The ends of the spring project beyond aud diverge from the pointsof the beveled hooks b, thus forming a mouth or yielding opening, into which the vertical coupling-pin e of an approaching car is guided.

Such pin crowds back the spring as the two draw-heads g lz. approach each other, and before they actually collide the pin has passed the point of the hook and entered by a sidewise movement into proper working position within the link. The spring closes the opening immediately, and by its reaction brings the link into the direct line of draft.

In uncoupling the cars one pin is simply raised sufficiently to allow the link to draw out of the socket in the usual way.

I claim as my invention- 1. A car-eoupling link having beveled hooked ends and an open side, provided with a spring, serving to admit the coupling-pin laterally to the link and retain it therein, the extremities of said spring projecting beyond and diverging from the points of the. hooks to form a mouth or guide for the entering pin, substantially as set forth. l

2. The described coupling for railway-cars, consisting of the draw-heads g IL and. coupling-pins cf, in combination with the doublyhooked open link a b b andthe spring c, mounted centrally upon said link, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimonywhereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM CRANE.`

Witnesses:

E. A. PHELPs, A. H. SPENCER. 

